Driver left boy, 4, on Clawson school bus, police say

CLAWSON — A Clawson school bus driver is suspended after police say he left a 4-year-old special needs boy behind on a bus and the boy wandered into a neighborhood.

Clawson Schools provide bus service for special needs students in the Madison Heights school district, where the Madison Heights boy attends classes.

“The bus driver unknowingly left the bus parked with the 4-year-old child inside,” said Clawson Police Detective John Reinhardt. “The bus driver failed to perform his required checks prior to leaving the bus.”

The incident was discovered about 8:50 a.m. Jan. 14 when neighbors called police after they found the boy wandering near the Clawson Middle School at the intersection of Phillips and Washington streets.

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The boy had gotten off the bus after it was parked at the middle school and wandered about 200 feet away before neighbors spotted him.

“This is an ongoing investigation and no charges are being sought at this time,” Reinhardt said.

Police picked the boy up, took him to the police station and located his parents.

Both Clawson and Madison Heights school districts are investigating the matter, police said.

Randy Speck, Madison Heights schools superintendent, said the boy was supposed to be dropped off at the Schoenhals Building, 27107 Hales, where the district runs its early childhood education center. The building is near John R and 11 Mile Roads.

“His parents were upset,” Speck said. “They are now driving him to school.”

Madison Heights school officials followed up with the parents and reviewed their policies for children who take the bus to the school, Speck said.

“The transportation and driver issues are being handled by the Clawson Schools,” he added.

Clawson Superintendent Monique Beels issued a statement shortly after the boy was left on the bus.

The bus driver was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the Clawson Schools investigation, Beels said in the statement.

“We cannot comment further on this personnel matter until it has been resolved,” she said of the driver’s suspension.

Beels said her district has been in touch with the boy’s parents, teacher and officials in Madison Heights.

“We are in the process of reviewing our policies, procedures and driver responsibilities to ensure that such an incident will never happen again,” she said.